STATE CONTROLLER BETTY YEE ENDORSESSOPHIE HAHN FOR BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5

Excitement Building for City Council Candidate with Support from State and Local Leaders

(Berkeley, CA) – Today, City of Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board member Sophie Hahn announced that her campaign for City Council has been endorsed by California State Controller Betty Yee. Yee is the chief fiscal officer of the State of California.

Yee emphasized Sophie Hahn’s dedication to Berkeley, stating "I am pleased to support Sophie Hahn for Berkeley City Council. A progressive champion with deep roots, Sophie has worked over 20 years to improve Berkeley’s neighborhoods, libraries, and schools. On the Zoning Board, Sophie has fought to ensure new developments include affordable housing and are sensitive to their neighbors. On the Sierra Club Executive Board, Sophie is combating climate change by promoting clean energy, green buildings, and urban agriculture. Sophie Hahn will bring her inclusive, effective leadership to the Berkeley City Council. She has my wholehearted support."

“I am delighted that Controller Yee has endorsed my campaign for Berkeley City Council” said Hahn. “She brings the highest levels of integrity, energy and expertise to her work for our State, and keeps progressive values at the forefront of all she undertakes. It is truly an honor to be endorsed by such an exemplary public official.”

State Controller Betty T. Yee was elected in November 2014, following two terms of service on the Board of Equalization. She also chairs the Franchise Tax Board and serves as a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) Boards. Yee has over 30 years of experience in public service, specializing in state and local finance and tax policy. She previously served as Chief Deputy Director for Budget with the California Department of Finance where she led the development of the Governor’s Budget, negotiations with the Legislature and key budget stakeholders, and fiscal analyses of legislation on behalf of the Administration. Prior to this, she served in senior staff positions for several fiscal and policy committees in both houses of the California State Legislature.

###

ABOUT SOPHIE HAHN

Sophie grew up in Berkeley’s District 5 and has raised her three children less than a mile from her childhood home. She graduated from Berkeley High in one of the first cohorts to attend elementary through High School in Berkeley’s recently integrated schools, launching her life of engagement and advocacy by working to desegregate extracurricular activities.

Sophie served as Chair of the City of Berkeley Commission on the Status of Women before being appointed to the Zoning Adjustments Board, where she has been a strong and consistent voice for affordable housing, green building and sustainable transit. As Co-Chair of the 15th California Assembly District Environmental Task Force and an elected member of the Sierra Club Northern Alameda County Group’s Executive Committee, she is deeply involved in local efforts to address climate change and achieve environmental justice. Sophie has also been involved in numerous school and community activities including serving as President of the King Middle School PTA, on the Board of Friends of UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library, and as a Board member for the Berkeley Public Library Foundation, where she led local fundraising efforts for the renovation of the North and other Branch Libraries.